Politics, as much as anything, has delayed implementation of WALLY, the Washtenaw and Livingston rail line.

The Howell-to-Ann Arbor commuter route is considered closer to reality than its companion Detroit-to-Ann Arbor line.

State-supported improvements to rails and crossings have gone a long way toward making the proposed route for WALLY useable, said Michael Benham, strategic planner for the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority.

"A lot has been done," he said.

Rail upgrades mean the line can handle trains traveling up to 60 mph over the 27-mile route, Benham said.

But costs, specifically how much local governments and taxpayers would have to contribute, remain unclear.

A newly commissioned feasibility study will "dig deeper" into the actual costs of running and maintaining the line, Benham said.

"The original study was more of a brick-and-mortar study," he said. "Now, we'll be looking a little deeper."

Issues like topography, and its impact on station building, will be among those considered.

A site for the Howell station, the route's northernmost stop, has yet to be selected.

But ridership will be the key issue.

Skepticism has clouded the project since the beginning, and even officials keeping open minds say they will need convincing.

"On the surface, the idea of mass transit is appealing," said state Rep. Hank Vaupel, R-Handy Township. "But it would have to be self-sustaining.

"Something that would require tax money and would only serve a small segment of the population just isn't going to fly in this economy," he added.